During the 1990s, the hit band U2 became one of Ireland's biggest exports, topping their usual popular exports: Guinness Beer and potatoes. U2's lead singer Bono is the only person in history to be nominated for a Grammy, an Oscar, the Nobel Peace Prize and a Golden Globe. Since U2 released their first hit album in 1983, they have sold over 240 million records.
The band was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1976 and was originally known as "Feedback," later changed their name to "The Hype" and finally became U2 in 1978. At about the same time of the band's final name change, U2 caught their big break at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland. Landing the grand prize at the show, the band won enough money to record their first demo.
More about the wonders of Ireland:
- Only 9 percent of the Irish population are natural-born redheads.
- Dublin claims to have one pub for every 100 people in its population.
- Irish is the country's first official language, but the second official language, English, is the most commonly spoken.
